Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

[quote=DGreene28;449324]On the flip side... every time I see a player available who I think could help the team I log onto this site and can't believe all the holier then thou posters who say a guy is a douche for getting a DUI or possession of Marijuana. None of you will ever have to work with the guy or even talk to him, if the FO decides that he's worth bringing in for a look at camp then they should.

If our country feels our president does not have to live up to your extreme "character" standards then acknowledge that you are in the minority Take a chill pill ... we're talking 'bout football.

Realize that you are not the only one with an educated football opinion on this board, and because you believe a certain way about this "character" conversation does not make you right. IMO the ones on this site who would make good FO people are the ones who look at these situations on a case by case basis, not making blanket decisions on personnel based on whether a player has a criminal record.[/quote]

The decision to pass him over because of "character" issues has nothing to do with our emotional opinion of his past. His record may be despicable and I may abhor guys like that, but that has no bearing on the decision.

His past shows that:

- The likelihood that he'll be cut or suspended in the future is higher than normal. If he's not available, he can't help us. A guy with elevated probability of suspension is no different than a guy with elevated probability of injury. All it takes is for him to violate the substance abuse policy one more time and the guy is gone from the league for good.

- Two years out of football will raise flags about anyone's ability to compete. Don't forget, the NFL contains world class athletes. I find it hard to believe that any player, as gifted as he may be, can just take two years off and come right back in prepared to pick up where he left off from an athletic perspective.

- Not only was he out of football for two years, but we're talking about bringing him into an entirely different defensive system. The Marvin Lewis system is far different than the Williams/Blache model we have here now. That's an awful lot of change at one time: guy comes back to football after two year hiatus, AND has to learn a new system, AND has to fit in with new teammates.

Plus as others mentioned, the Bengals wouldn't cut him if they felt he could make an impact for them.

Our [U]opinions[/U] on character, and how we [U]feel[/U] about his past, should have nothing to do with the decision. You objectively look at the player and his situation. In most cases, when you analyze questionable players objectively, even when you separate out your feelings, the risk is still rarely worth the reward.

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

I can't believe this thread has 60 posts. The guy is a scumbag druggie who can't pass drug tests despite millions of dollars and gridiron glory riding on it.

Even if he wasn't a HUGE character risk, he plays MLB. Fletcher will be great for another year or two, and HB Blades is waiting in the wings to follow in his footsteps, and is a big special teams contributor in the meantime. There's no room for Thurman on this team.

This is silly.

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

[quote=Schneed10;449452]....Our [U]opinions[/U] on character, and how we [U]feel[/U] about his past, should have nothing to do with the decision. You objectively look at the player and his situation. In most cases, when you analyze questionable players objectively, even when you separate out your feelings, the risk is still rarely worth the reward.[/quote]
100% Agree with the entire post. :thumb:

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

Marvin Lewis makes statement about the departure of Odell Thurman. They aren't going to be losing much in this clown that hasn't touched ground on a football field in 2 years.

[URL="http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8086fdc6&template=with-video&confirm=true"]'No big deal,' Bengals move on without Thurman[/URL]

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

i voted NO. he has proven to be trouble.

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

When some team pics him up and he goes back to the 100+ tackle season he had 2 yrs ago, every one will wish we jumped on him.....Hes only 25 and he was productive as hell as a starter for the bengals...What happens if Rocky cant come back????? The skins D is screwed...You can never have enough capable backups , especially when they come as cheap as he will

CM

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

only at minimum plus incentives.

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

[quote=ChickenMonkey;449519][B]When[/B] some team pics him up and he goes back to the 100+ tackle season he had 2 yrs ago, every one will wish we jumped on him.....Hes only 25 and he was productive as hell as a starter for the bengals...What happens if Rocky cant come back????? The skins D is screwed...You can never have enough capable backups , especially when they come as cheap as he will

CM[/quote]

When is definitely the wrong word. You should change that to "if".

There's a really low chance that he's going to come back into the league after two years off and post 100+ tackles.

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

If it wouldn't hurt our cap too much I don't see why not. He used to be really good, and if he doesen't perform or decides to get into more trouble we cut him.

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

[quote=GMScud;449456]I can't believe this thread has 60 posts. The guy is a scumbag druggie who can't pass drug tests despite millions of dollars and gridiron glory riding on it.

Even if he wasn't a HUGE character risk, he plays MLB. Fletcher will be great for another year or two, and HB Blades is waiting in the wings to follow in his footsteps, and is a big special teams contributor in the meantime. There's no room for Thurman on this team.

This is silly.[/quote]

I don't think I've ever quoted myself, but good lord was I right about this ding dong.

Breaking news as of about 50 minutes ago:
[url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/06/02/thurman.fails.test/?cnn=yes]LB Thurman faces indefinite suspension after drug test - NFL - SI.com[/url]

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

ESPN reported a few hours ago that this guy tested positive again for banned substances.
does'nt that men he's banned from the league now???

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

Shocker.

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

The commish is takin care of business! Thurman is done for 2008!

[URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3429624"]ESPN - League again suspends ex-Bengal LB Thurman, out for 2008 - NFL[/URL]

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

Ok, I guess that means we have to cut him. No big deal (THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL), I mean we only signed him to vet min + incentives (THATS LIKE $700 THOUSAND DOLLARZ). But hey at least we took a chance (WE'RE SCREWED). Oh wait.

Re: Odell Thurman Cut:
 

As talented as this guy is, it would be risky at this point to take a chance on him until he gets cleaned up. Could you imagine having to prepare for a big game and after one night of partying, this guy lets the team down. That changes the dynamics of your defensive scheme, not even to mention the tremendous distraction it would cause for your ballclub. I not apposed to giving people a second chance, but this is different from being a disgruntle player, this is an addiction problem that needs to be addressed to make him a better man, then he can think about playing ball again.